Biography
Becky Simpson was born in Greater Manchester and grew up in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, surrounded by a creative atmosphere. Her father, Dave Simpson, is a professional playwright known for works such as Girls Night Out and Raving Beauties. Her mother, Diane Whitley, began her career as an actress before transitioning into writing, producing, and directing. Naturally, Becky developed a strong interest in the arts, following in their footsteps. She has written short plays, stories, poetry, and films.
At the age of eight, Becky had the chance to play Lottie in a radio adaptation of The Little Princess, produced by a family friend. Recognizing her talent, her parents encouraged her to pursue more acting opportunities. With industry contacts, she secured several radio roles, culminating in the lead role of Spoonface Steinberg—the inner monologue of an eight-year-old autistic girl dying of cancer—in a 60-minute monologue for BBC Radio 4. Written by Kate Rowland and directed by Lee Hall, the 1997 play garnered significant attention. Becky attended the Talkie Awards, where she won Best Radio Drama and Talkie of the Year. Following this success, she signed with Jane Hollowood Associates, who represented her in acting. She then transitioned to television, appearing in guest roles on Always and Everyone (1999), Peak Practice (1993), and Doctors (2000). Her most notable TV role was in See How They Run (1999), a six-part CBBC drama about a family on the run from gangsters, with half the series filmed in Australia—an exciting experience for Becky at age 12.
In 2004, Becky paused her acting career to study Creative Writing at the University of Leeds, graduating in 2007. Having been passionate about writing since age nine, this was a natural path for her. In 2010, she wrote and produced her first film, Thinking Straight (2011), which was featured at numerous international festivals, including the London Independent Festival, Melbourne Queer Festival, Cannes Short Film Corner, Mix Milano, and the London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. Becky has written two feature film scripts she is eager to develop. She enjoyed producing and is open to pursuing directing as well. Additionally, she has created treatments and pilot episodes for various TV dramas she hopes to launch. She also wrote a trial script for Hollyoaks and independently crafted scripts for Sherlock and Doctor Who, aiming to leverage these for further industry opportunities.
Becky was the youngest member of The Wes Paul Band. She had been involved in Manchester bands since age 14 and plays guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and violin. She first performed as a guest with Wes Paul and Liverpool band Nashville on October 8, 2006, marking her debut at Liverpool's Cavern Club—a long-held dream. Becky became involved in The Wes Paul Band by promoting showcase events and distributing flyers around Liverpool. She then took on the role of publicity manager and helped develop the Cavern Showcase website. In February 2007, Wes invited her to join the band as the bass player, a position she accepted. Becky left the band shortly after January 1, 2014. She also writes her own songs.
